“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
“Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Revelation 14:7
The Bible is full of admonishments regarding fear. We are often told to “fear not” when something miraculous occurs. An angel appeared to the shepherds and told them not to be afraid when he announced Christ’s birth.
I am thinking about this because I am currently reading Psalms and they are full of instructions about fear. Other words used at times are awe or reverence.
This has come up in two different small groups I have been in with members saying they were not afraid of God. Another member asked if the person would be afraid if an angel appeared before him. He stubbornly insisted he wouldn’t, but that’s hard to believe. The other group member just felt that since God is a loving God, she would not be afraid. That is true, of course, but since God is also a holy God, we also have reason to be in overwhelming awe.
If fear is the beginning of wisdom, we are right to be afraid/awed and we are wise to truly worship the Holy One every day, not just give perfunctory acknowledgment on Sunday morning. Wisdom is a worthy goal for any of us and it begins as we have a proper perspective of God and when He has His rightful place in our hearts.
“Teach me, Lord, the way of Your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep Your law and obey it with all my heart.” Psalm 119 23-24